Annotations upon all the New Testament philologicall and theologicall wherein the emphasis and elegancie of the Greeke is observed, some imperfections in our translation are discovered, divers Jewish rites and customes tending to illustrate the text are mentioned, many antilogies and seeming contradictions reconciled, severall darke and obscure places opened, sundry passages vindicated from the false glosses of papists and hereticks / by Edward Leigh ...

CHAP. VII.

Vers. 2. FOr a woman which hath an husband, is bound by the law to her husband, so long as he liveth, &c.]* 1.1 The Law is the husband, say Calvin, Estius, and the most ancient Interpreters; others, sinne in the dominion: But it is not much mate∣riall whether we understand it of the Law irritating sinne, or of sinne as irritated by the law.

Vers. 7. I had not known sinne, but by the Law] That is, effectually; (for by nature he knew many sinnes) or, to my good and comfort. For I had not known lust] meaning the motions of originall concupiscence had been sin.

Vers. 8 But sinne taking occasion by the Commandement, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence] Sin takes occasion from a threefold power in the law: First, The con∣vincing, or discovering power of the Law, as it is a Glasse; as to sweare, or the like, though there be no pleasure in it, because the Law forbids it. 2 It blinds a man. 3 It minceth it, thou shalt not forsake thy father or mother, except it be Corban. 4 Takes occasion to hate the light. Secondly, from its restraining power, as it is a bridle: 1 Lust then spreads the more inwardly. 2 It is inraged by it, acts with the more violence; Let us break their bonds. 3 It improves it; as the sight of an enemy stirs up a mans courage. Thirdly, it takes occasion, by the condemning power of the Law; we can be but dam∣ned, Let us eat and drinke, &c. 2 It takes occasion thence to drive men into despaire. 3 Drives a man to self-murder, as Judas. 4. Drives a man to blasphemy; as Spira and the damned in Hell.

For without the Law sinne was dead] No more to me then a dead thing; it never troubled me.

Vers. 9. For I was alive] In performances, Phil. 1.6. presumption, hope, expectation, Acts 26.9.

Without the Law] not in the literall, but spirituall sense; once, in the state of my unregeneracy.

But when the Commandement came] in the spiritualnesse of it, and I saw in some measure its holinesse, Sinne revived] That is,* 1.2 the guilt of it was discovered to his conscience; And I dyed] I began to see I was in the State of death.

Vers. 13. That sinne by the Commandement might beceme exceeding sinfull] That is, when the Commandement was cleared to me, then I saw that I was extream sinfull; or, felt the violent motions of my sinne.

Vers. 15. For that which I doe I allow not, &c.] The Apostle speaking of the frail∣ties and infirmities that were in himself, and the rest of the faithfull, giveth us in this and the next Chapter four notes whereby a sinne of infirmity may be known from a raigning sinne. The first is in this Verse, What I hate (saith he) that I doe.* 1.3 He was convinced in his judgement that it was a sinne, and therefore hated it. The second is, Vers. 19. The evill which I would not, that I do. His will, the purpose and resolution of his heart was against it. The third is, Vers. 24. O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death! He was much troubled and grieved when he was overtaken with it. The fourth and last is, Chap. 8. vers. 1. They that are in Christ Iesus walke not after the flesh. It is not their custome and ordinary practice to do so.

Vers. 16. I consent unto the Law] Gr. I speak together the same thing that the Law doth.* 1.4

Vers. 18. To will is present with me, but how to perform that which is good I finde not] He signifieth that he could begin good things, but not perfect them,* 1.5 and go through stitch.

Vers. 19. For the good that I would doe, I doe not] He speaketh of the inward endea∣vours of his heart.* 1.6

But the evill which I would not that I doe] meaning, in respect of the corruption of his nature.

Vers. 20. Now if I doe that I would not, it is no more I that doe it, but sinne that dwelleth in me] If against my generall purpose I sinne against God; and be sorry for it, and displeased with my selfe because I cannot obey God in that perfection I desire, it is no more I that do it, but sinne that dwelleth in me.

Vers. 22. For I delight in the Law of God, after the inward man] Yet Vers. 23. Paul resisteth the Law of God. Answ. This is an opposition in the same person,* 1.7 but not in the same part; according to the Spirit he delights in the Law, according to the flesh he rebelleth against it.

Vers. 23. Bringing me in captivity to the law of sinne] 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. It signifieth one taken with the point of a Speare or Sword; or with a bloody weapon: from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, cuspis, mucro, & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, captivus; so is the word Luke 21.24. Because (as a Law) sinne doth exercise power over all the faculties of the soule,* 1.8 and members of the body.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Sin may com∣mand far in the hearts of Gods people, but it is not a hus∣band; there is not onely au∣thority in a husband, but a principle of love.
• * 1.2

  By the life of sin the strength of it is under∣stood, 1 To condemne; 2 operate or worke in a man obedience to it selfe.
• * 1.3

  Hilders. on Psal. 51.7. Lect. 136.
• * 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, est assentior, etiam Sophocli & Euripidi. Tum vero Hebraeis dicere est cogitare.
• * 1.5

  Mr. Perkins.
• * 1.6

  Quae memoras scio vera esse, nutrix, sed furor cogit sequi pe∣jora. Sencea Hippol. Act. 1. Scen. 11.
• * 1.7

  Genus hoc lo∣quendi in Scho∣lâ Platonis usi∣tatum fuit, l. 9. de Repub. vide Dieteric. Anti∣quit. Bibl.
• * 1.8

  See Rom. 16.17.